Measuring attachment for pencils



Sept. 14 ,1926.

J. H. MQREHEAD MEASURING ATTACHMENT FOR'PENCILS Filed June 11 1925INVENTOR M W M 5 32 v 5 4 62 2 J 3 a x J J A 4 ad .d 3%, E: i H1 I l H|\l|\)l| MW a 7m 7. j 2 a 3 b w w h.

ATTORNEY WITNESS;

Patented Sept. 14, 1926.

F I C E JOHN HOE MOREI-IEAD, OF CLARKDALE, ARIZONA.

MEASURING ATTACHMENT FOR PENCILS.

Application filed June 11,

This invention relates to measuring instruments and has for its objectthe provision of a novel device well adapted to be mounted upon a leadpencil and operable for measuring lumber or in fact other similararticles or objects.

An important and more specific object is the provision of a measuringdevice embodying a disk or roller adapted to be moved along the objector article to be measured in frictional engagement therewith, theresultant rotary movement of the friction disk or roller being utilizedfor actuating the measuring apparatus so that a reasonably accuratereading will be given.

Another object of the invention is to provide a measuring device of thischaracter which, on account of its adaptability for mounting upon a leadpencil, will be very easy to carry about and consequently veryconvenient to use.

Among other features this invention has for an object the provision of ameasuring device of this character which will possess various structuralfeatures of advantage and importance and which will, moreover, be simpleand inexpensive to manufacture, easy to use, eflicient and durable inservice, and a general improvement in the art.

lVith the above and other objects and advantages in view, the inventionconsists in the details of construction and the arrangement andcombination of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed,and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is anelevation of the device showing it mounted upon a lead pencil,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section on a larger scale, theview beingtaken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1, I

Figure 3 is a cross section on substan tially the line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section taken on the line ll of Figure 3,

F ignre 5 is a side elevation showing a modification,

Figure 6 is a detail in cross section taken on the line 6-6 ofFigure 5,and

Figure 7 is a detail perspective view of the pointer embodied in themodification.

Figure 8 is a longitudinal section showing another modification.

Referring more particularly to the draw huge, I have shownthe device asco r1s= ing an elengated frame member designated 1925. Serial No.36,501.

generally by the numeral 10, which frame member may be of any desiredsize and material depending upon the preference of the manufacturer. Atone end this frame member'is formed with a cylindrical split sleeveportion 11 adapted to be frictionally engaged upon a lead pencil or thelike indicated at A and at its other end it is formed with a socketportion 12 within which is mounted an eraser 13. While the device isdescribed as being adaptedfor engagement upon a lead pencil and as beingequipped with an eraser, it is of course obvious that these are meredetails of refinement which could be omitted withoutaffecting theessential features of the invention. The in termediate portion ll of theframe is formed opened or slotted, the material at opposite sides of theslot 15 being depressed as indicated at 16 and prcvided with any desirednumber of graduations representing feet and inches or any other scalethat may be adopted.

Located within and extending longitudinally of the intermediate portionlet of the frame is a threaded rod or screw 17 secured in place in anydesired manner as for instance by having its ends reduced as at 18,passing through the end portions of the frame and upset as indicated at19. This threaded rod'or screw is formed with a longitudinally extendingkeyway 20 for a purpose to be described.

Threadedly engaged upon the screw 17 it a rotatable disk 21 which mayhave its periphery simply roughened, if desired, but which is preferablyprovided with a tire or band 22 of rubber or other similar material.Slidably mounted along the keyway 20 is an angular member 24 which isconfined by the disk or roller 21 so as to be incapable of separationfrom the screw, longitudinal displacement with respect to the rollerbeing prevented by the angularity of the end portions. One end of thismember is prolonged laterally to define an arm 24 terminating in a crosshead 25 constituting a pointer movable along the scales inscribed uponthe depressed portions 16 of the frame at opposite sides of the slot 15therein. I

In the operation of the device, it will be seen that initially theroller 21 should be dis Used at one end of the scale. It really ma es nodifference which end inasmuch as there are two men each side of theslot, the two scales reading in opposite directions. Assuming that theroller is at one limit of its movement, the device is moved by engagingthe roller upon the board or other device to be measured, and thendrawing the device along longitudinally of the board or other object sothat the roller 21 will be rotated on account of its frictionalengagement. As the roller is turned it will obviously travel along thescrew 17 and will carry the pointer with it. The pitch of the threadshould be such as compared with the graduations on the scale thatmovement of the device along a cer- 1 tain predetermined distance willoperate to move the pointer a corresponding distance along the scale so'as to give a fairly accurate reading as to the length of the board orother object.

In Figures 5, 6 and 7 I have illustrated a modified form of theinvention. Referring to these figures the numeral 26 designates ametallic tubular shell or casing having one end provided with a socketmember 27 adapted to be engaged upon a pencil or other supportingelement of a similar nature. The other end may carry an eraser inexactly the same manner as the first described form if such is desired.The shell member 26 is externally threaded throughout its length and isformed centrally with a longitudinally extending slot 28 which is notnecessarily cut entirely through but which may be formed simply as adepression defined by pressing the material inwardly along a line.Rotatably mounted upon this shell and having threaded engagementtherewith is a roller 29 preferably equipped with a rubber tire 30 as inthe first described form. Located within the slot or depressed groove 28is an angular member 31 confined by the roller 29 against separationfrom the shell and prevented from longitudinal displacement by theangularity of its shape. At one end the angular member 31 is formed as apointer 32 cooperating with a scale 33 inscribed upon the depressedportion 28. The operation of this form is exactly the same as that ofthe first described form as will be readily understood.

In Figure 8 I have illustrated another form of the invention in which Iprovide an elongated shell member 33 having one end split at 34 tofacilitate engagement upon a lead pencil or the like. Secured within thebody of the shell member and secured therein at a point spaced from thesplit end are blocks or other closure elements 35 and 36 held in placeby any desired means and having holes therethrough forming bearings forthe reduced end portions 37 and 38 of a rotatably mounted screw 39 whichextends coaxially of the shell. The projecting end portion 37 of thisscrew is connected with or carries means embedded within a rubber tip 40which may be used as an eraser if desired but which also takes the placeof the disks 21 and 29 of the first described forms. Threaded onto thescrew 39 is a nut member 41 formed or otherwise pro- '5 in a mannersimilar to that above described in connection with the first two formsof the invention.

In the operation of this last mentioned form, illustrated in Figure 8,it will be apparent that to effect measurement, it is merely necessarythat the tip 40 be engaged against the board, or other objects to bemeasured and moved therealong so as to have a rolling action. hen thisis done it is obvious that the screw 39 will be correspondingly rotatedand this will effect longitudinal movement of the nut member ll withrespect to the slot 43, the pointer 42 cooperating with whatevergraduations are provided on the shell giving an indication as to themeasurement.

From the foregoing description and a study of the drawings, it will beapparent that I have thus provided a simply constructed, inexpensive andvery easily operated measuring device which will be extremely convenientto use inasmuch as it may be carried permanently mounted upon a pencilor pen if such be preferred. The device is thus able to be easilycarried in the pocket and will not occupy any extraordinary amount ofroom. The device is always ready for instant use and when properlyemployed will give a fairly accurate reading as to the length of plankor in fact any desired objects or articles. From the description andillustration it is believed that the construction, operation andadvantages will be thoroughly understood by one skilled in the artwithout further explanation.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of theinvention, it should be understood that I reserve the right to make suchchanges in the form, construction and arrangement of parts as will notdepart from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoinedclaims.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, an elongated supportingmember including a threaded element, said member further including agraduated portion, a pointer movable longitudinally along saidsupporting member and a roller threadedly engaged upon said threadedelement and operatively engaging the pointer whereby the latter will bemoved longitudinally upon. rotation of the former.

2. A pencil attachment comprising an elongated tubular member having oneside formed With a slot and provided With graduations adjacent the slot,transverse elements Within the tubular member constituting bearings, athreaded rod journaled through said transverse elements, a nut memberWithin the tubular member threadedly engaged upon the rod and having apointer projecting through and movable 10 along said slot in cooperationWith the graduations, and a roller on the projecting end of the rod,said roller being formed of rubber, and the projecting end of the rodhaving lateral extensions embedded in the 1 roller.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOHN HOE MOREHEAD.

